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Fresh from having their nine-game winning streak nipped in the bud, the Boston Celtics will attempt to return to winning ways when they welcome the Phoenix Suns to TD Garden on Saturday. The hosts are already guaranteed a playoff spot and only have their sights set on securing the number one seed in the final knockings of the regular season, while the visitors will head to Massachusetts knowing that a defeat here could severely dent their play-in aspirations. © Imago For much of the 2023-24 campaign, the Boston Celtics were the team and deservingly emerged as eventual champions, but that has not been the case this time around with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Oklahoma City Thunder both leading the way.
Nonetheless, Joe Mazzulla 's men have remained a force to reckon with and recently swept a six-game road trip for the first time in the club's history before returning to their home court, where they were shockingly beaten 124-103 by the Miami Heat. The Celtics were well off the pace from start to finish, having trailed for over 42 of the 48 minutes of action, leading to their heaviest home defeat in 10 months, dating back to a 118-94 loss to the Cavs in last season's playoff second round. Now five wins behind the Cavaliers at the top of the East with six games left to play, the record NBA champions have all but relinquished their number one seed in the conference and are set for a playoff first-round matchup against one of the Atlanta Hawks or Orlando Magic as things stand.
This weekend's matchup against the Suns definitely holds good memories for the Celtics, who have come out on top in five of the last six editions of this fixture, most recently an emphatic 132-102 triumph at the Footprint Centre one week ago. Having not lost back-to-back games in front of their fans since the start of March, Saturday's hosts will be confident of getting themselves back on track before taking on the Washington Wizards 24 hours later. © Imago The Phoenix Suns are undoubtedly one of the most stacked teams in terms of talent, but that has not translated into a successful campaign, as they currently face the prospect of missing out on the playoffs.
Mike Budenholzer 's men won four games in a row between March 18 and 25 to rejuvenate their chances of securing a play-in berth, but defeats in each of their subsequent four outings have since thrown a spanner in the works. Last time out, the Suns fell short of the challenge posed by the Milwaukee Bucks following a 133-123 defeat when the teams went head to head for the second time in eight days at Fiserv Forum on Wednesday. Missing two of their three leading scorers in Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal , the Suns still managed to put up a decent fight, led by Devin Booker 's 39-point performance on 14-32 shooting, albeit all to no avail in Wisconsin.
Sitting 11th in the Western Conference standings, the Suns are still within one win of the Sacramento Kings, who they play on the final day, and it is imperative that Saturday's visitors stay within touching distance of their nearest rivals. © Imago Kristaps Porzingis was absent from the Celtics' defeat to the Heat due to return-from-illness reconditioning, making the Latvian a doubt for this one. Jrue Holiday and Al Horford also missed the aforementioned games through shoulder and toe injuries respectively, although the latter should be back in time to feature here.
Phoenix Suns talisman Kevin Durant is expected to be unavailable for about one week of action due to an ankle problem he sustained against the Houston Rockets. Bradley Beal (hamstring) has missed each of his side's last eight matches, although the 31-year-old is on course to return to action over the next few days. Los Angeles Lakers possible starting five: White, Tatum; Brown, Hauser; Horford Phoenix Suns possible starting five: Booker, Allen; Gillespie, Dunn; Richards Still shorthanded on the offensive side of things, the Suns have the herculean task of coming out on top at an opposing ground where they have only won on one of their last four trips.
We are backing the home side to get the job done and further jeopardise their visitors' postseason ambitions..
